Atlantic silverside

Atlantic silverside
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Atheriniformes
Family: Atherinopsidae
Genus: Menidia
Species:
M. menidia
Binomial name
Menidia menidia
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Synonyms[2]
  • Atherina menidia Linnaeus, 1766
  • Atherina notata Mitchill, 1815
  • Menidia notata (Mitchill, 1815)
  • Atherina viridescens Mitchill, 1815
  • Atherina boscii Valenciennes, 1835
  • Menidia dentex Goode & Bean, 1882
  • Phoxargyrea dayi Fowler, 1903

The Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia), also known as spearing in the northeastern United States, is a small species of fish that is one of the most abundant fish species present in estuarine habitats along the Atlantic coast of North America. [3] It is a common subject of scientific research because of its sensitivity to environmental changes. According to the IUCN Red List, this species is stable and has no major threats to its populations, so it is marked Least Concern. [4] Despite being an extremely common species, most individuals die after one year once they migrate offshore, but a few will make it to two years. [3]  The fish is mostly translucent, with white coloring on the anterior end of the body and brown speckling on the top of the head, posterior scales on the back, and near the jaw. A distinctive silver band runs the length of the fish, next to the lateral line. Their mouths are large compared to other Menidia species, and their first dorsal fin are placed more posteriorly than other silversides. [5][6]

A scientific illustration of Menidia menidia.
  1. ^ Carpenter, K.E.; Munroe, T. (2015). "Menidia menidia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T16441575A16510092. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T16441575A16510092.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Menidia menidia". FishBase. April 2019 version.
  3. ^ a b Cadigan, Kenneth M.; Fell, Paul E. (1985). "Reproduction, Growth and Feeding Habits of Menidia menidia (Atherinidae) in a Tidal Marsh-Estuarine System in Southern New England". Copeia. 1985 (1): 21–26. doi:10.2307/1444786. ISSN 0045-8511.
  4. ^ IUCN (2013-01-29). Menidia menidia: Carpenter, K.E. & Munroe, T.: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T16441575A16510092 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2015-4.rlts.t16441575a16510092.en.
  5. ^ Robins, C. Richard; Ray, G. Carleton; Douglass, John; Freund, Rudolf (1986). A field guide to Atlantic Coast fishes of North America. The Peterson field guide series. National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-395-31852-2.
  6. ^ Middaugh, Douglas P. (1981). "Reproductive Ecology and Spawning Periodicity of the Atlantic Silverside, Menidia menidia (Pisces: Atherinidae)". Copeia. 1981 (4): 766–776. doi:10.2307/1444176. ISSN 0045-8511.